The National Book Awards have unveiled their finalists for 2025, highlighting a diverse group of writers across multiple categories. This year’s nominees include established novelists, journalists, and poets.
Notable Nominees
Among the 25 finalists are:
- Rabih Alameddine – Recognized for “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)”
- Megha Majumdar – Nominated for “A Guardian and a Thief”
- Omar El Akkad – Competing with “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This”
- Julia Ioffe – For “Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy”
Categories and Recipients
The awards feature several categories, including:
- Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
- Translated Literature
- Young People’s Literature
Lifetime Achievement Awards
This year, the event will also honor two individuals for their lifetime contributions:
- George Saunders – Author and professor at Syracuse University
- Roxane Gay – Renowned author and cultural critic at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Previous Honors
Many of this year’s finalists have received past honors from the National Book Foundation:
- Alameddine – Finalist in 2014 for “An Unnecessary Woman”
- Majumdar – Longlisted in 2020 for “A Burning”
- Patricia Smith – Finalist in 2008 for “Blood Dazzler”
This year’s nominees in the nonfiction category are marking their first appearance among the finalists.
Awards Announcement Details
The winners of each category will be announced on November 19 during a ceremony held in New York City. The event will also be accessible via streaming on the National Book Awards’ website.
Complete List of Finalists
| Category | Authors and Titles |
|---|---|
| Fiction |
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| Nonfiction |
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| Poetry |
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| Translated Literature |
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| Young People’s Literature |
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The anticipation surrounding the announcement of the winners is palpable, as authors and readers alike await this prestigious recognition by the National Book Awards.
